I think my securities far outweigh my insecurities. I am not

When Billy Connolly said, “I think my securities far outweigh my insecurities. I am not nearly as afraid of myself and my imagination as I used to be,” he spoke with the wisdom of one who has wrestled with the shadows of the soul and emerged into the light. His words are not boastful—they are the confession of a man who has learned to make peace with his own mind. For to fear one’s imagination is to fear one’s very essence, and to make war against oneself is the most terrible of all battles. In this quote, Connolly reveals a truth that transcends art and fame: that peace and power come not from silencing the self, but from befriending it.

The origin of these words lies in the long journey of Connolly’s life—a life marked by struggle, laughter, and transformation. Born into poverty, scarred by hardship, he rose to become one of the great storytellers and comedians of his age. Yet behind the laughter there was always the deeper current of thought—the quiet storms of doubt and fear that every artist and thinker must face. His insecurities, like the shadows of a mountain, once loomed large; but over time, through reflection and courage, he learned that his securities, his strengths, were greater still. He discovered that the same imagination that once frightened him was the very wellspring of his freedom.

To understand this truth, one must first understand the nature of fear. The ancients taught that fear arises not from the outer world, but from within. It is the mind’s resistance to its own depths. When Connolly says he is “not nearly as afraid of myself,” he speaks of this inner victory—the taming of the chaos within. Many live their entire lives avoiding themselves, terrified of what they might find in silence or solitude. Yet, as the philosopher Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” To know oneself is to confront the darkness within and to see that it is not a monster, but a misunderstood part of the human soul.

Consider the story of Vincent van Gogh, whose imagination burned like fire. For much of his life, that fire consumed him—his visions, his emotions, his restless yearning for beauty. He feared his mind, even as it created works of immortal brilliance. But imagine, had van Gogh learned to see his imagination not as an affliction, but as a gift—had he seen, as Connolly learned to see, that fear can be turned into fuel. Then he might have lived to witness the glory his art brought to the world. From his tragedy, we learn what Connolly expresses in triumph: that to embrace the self, even with all its chaos, is the beginning of wisdom.

When Connolly speaks of securities, he does not mean the shallow comforts of wealth or success, but the quiet strength of self-acceptance. This is the kind of security that no one can give and no one can take away. It is the calm that comes from knowing one’s worth, from trusting one’s voice, and from standing unafraid in the face of one’s own thoughts. For the imagination, though wild, is not an enemy to be conquered, but a companion to be understood. When we stop fearing it, it becomes the source of our creativity, our laughter, and our resilience.

His wisdom is especially vital in the modern age, where so many are haunted by self-doubt, comparing themselves endlessly to the illusions around them. Fear of the self has become a quiet epidemic. Yet Connolly’s words remind us that true security comes from turning inward, from finding comfort in one’s own company, and from trusting the mysterious power of imagination. The mind, when accepted, becomes a temple; when rejected, it becomes a prison. To fear one’s imagination is to chain the soul; to trust it is to set it free.

So, my listener, take this teaching into your own heart: do not be afraid of yourself. Sit with your thoughts, even the dark ones. Listen to your inner voice, even when it trembles. Exercise your imagination like a muscle, and it will become your ally rather than your adversary. For the self, when befriended, becomes the greatest source of strength; and the imagination, when trusted, becomes the path to creation and joy.

Thus, as Billy Connolly teaches, the greatest victory is not over the world, but over fear itself—the fear of one’s own depths. Let your securities grow through understanding, not denial. Let your imagination guide you through the shadows into light. For to no longer be afraid of oneself is to stand among the free, the wise, and the whole. And when that peace is found, laughter, creativity, and courage flow naturally—as effortlessly as the breath of life itself.